In general, cellular coverage in Switzerland is exceptional. You will find that even in remote villages or on mountaintops there is usually cell phone coverage. There are a bunch of options for cell phone usage abroad. I used Verizon’s TravelPass plan, which cost me $10 for every day I used data. Because school, my room, and most cafes had internet, data usage was rare. FaceTime and WhatsApp were key in communicating with family and friends back home. That wasn’t a common plan, as most people bought a Swiss SIM card. A SIM card will cost a little less in Switzerland but you could find it more convenient to have the service (and number) ready to go as soon as you arrive in Switzerland. Having a Swiss SIM card will allow you to take advantage of the local rates and are normally under $100 to purchase.

 

As far as internet goes, my floor did not offer wi-fi, but each room had a LAN cable. Remember to get an adapter beforehand if you need it! I had an unfortunate adventure arriving in Basel without one on my first day. If you make the same mistake as I did, go to the Apple Store at Freie Str. 47, 4001 Basel (near Marktplatz).